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power down

B1 neutral separable both
In simple words

To turn off a machine or computer properly so it stops using electricity.

Literal meaning: Reducing power to zero in a downward direction — the 'down' reflects the drop in energy level.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To turn off an electronic device or system safely and completely.

"Please power down your laptop before placing it in the overhead compartment."

"HAL, power down the life support systems in the pod bay."

— 2001: A Space Odyssey, film directed by Stanley Kubrick (1968) — paraphrase of dialogue
Grammar: separable
2 B1 neutral

For a system or machine to cease operating, losing power.

"The backup generator powered down after the mains electricity was restored."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Associated with technology — computers, servers, spacecraft, nuclear reactors, etc. Implies a proper shutdown sequence rather than simply unplugging. Can be intransitive ('the system powered down') or transitive ('power down the reactor'). Common in science fiction as well as real technical contexts.

Commonly used with

computer server reactor device system spacecraft equipment

Forms

Base
power down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
powers down
he/she/it
Past simple
powered down
yesterday
Past participle
powered down
have + pp
-ing form
powering down
continuous

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Synonyms

shut down switch off turn off deactivate power off

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